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Oof. Anyone else need a minute to recover from this episode of Shameless? “Crazy Love” is the episode we’ve been building toward for a long time, and as far as payoffs go, this was a particularly satisfying one on several levels. Where to begin?

After blowing our minds with a Jimmy sighting as the credits rolled in the season four finale, he has finally reconnected with Fiona. She is, as expected, furious at him for disappearing, which she makes abundantly clear by beating the crap out of him. He explains to her—and us—where he’s been (tied up on a yacht, forced to work in a drug plant, suffering from malaria), and tells her that he wanted to call but couldn’t. Jimmy’s pursuing of Fiona is reminiscent of season one, when he unabashedly stalked her until she agreed to give him the attention he craved. She attempts to dismiss him here as well, but his persistence and charm are once again too much for her to deny.

Jimmy’s reappearance brings into stark contrast the lack of intimate knowledge between Gus and Fiona. Where Gus is struggling to identify which Gallagher brother is which, Jimmy pops back up knowing exactly who the key players are. At a time with Fiona is worried deeply about Ian, having Jimmy show up and understand precisely what is happening is especially appealing. Gus, on the other hand, despite his best attempts to be there for her, falls short. Ultimately Fiona falls into old habits and allows Jimmy to stay the night. She regrets it in the morning and abruptly throws him out, but when he shows up again later, she is again pulled in by his insistence that he loves her. There on the kitchen floor (another flashback to the pilot), Fiona stops him mid-thrust, crying in recognition of her pattern to once again make a decision that is going to wreck a good thing. Jimmy may not be Robbie—there is a history and real emotion that exists here—but she has still impulsively jeopardized a relationship she was excited about just days before.

There are many questions that remain regarding Fiona’s romantic future. There is likely no real future for Fiona and Jimmy, but his reappearance is important inasmuch as it can finally give Fiona the closure she’s needed for the last year and a half. Jimmy was the first person Fiona ever allowed herself to trust; then, as her parents before him, he abandoned her. So much of the wreck that Fiona has become can be traced back to the feelings of worthlessness that come with that kind of abandonment. Perhaps Jimmy’s return will help Fiona believe in herself again. Perhaps she can close the door on this chapter of sabotaging herself because she doesn’t deserve happiness. Perhaps Jimmy can at least give her that.

Let’s be honest, though. Even with the intensity of Jimmy’s return, that’s not why this episode left me feeling like I’d been run over by a Mack truck. Ian’s road trip with Yev was terrifying to witness. Ian always had the best intentions where Yev was concerned, but his break with reality made taking care of him impossible. After an onlooker watched him leave the baby locked in a car, she called the police, who recognized that Ian was ill. They took him into custody and got hold of Mickey. Together with Lip, Debbie, and Carl, Mickey went to retrieve the love of his life.

Last year, when Ian went off and joined the army, Mickey was left pining for him on the South Side. Eventually Ian returned, and Mickey stepped well outside his comfort zone in an effort to secure his relationship with Ian and ensure that he would never suffer again the way he had when Ian was gone. When Ian took off with Yev and his whereabouts were unknown, Mickey was thrown right back into that well of despair. Not only was Ian missing, but he was potentially putting himself and Yev in danger. The sheer powerlessness of the situation was enough to completely undo Mickey. We finally hear Mickey drop the “L” word as he pleads with Ian in a voice mail: “This is like the 200th time I’m calling and you not picking up. I’m starting to get homicidal … I’m worried about you … I love you.”

We see just how shaken Mickey is by this incident in the way he insists to the Gallaghers that Ian be checked into a hospital whether he wants to or not. Part of what is eating at Mickey is the idea that he failed to take care of Ian the way he swore he would. Mickey is not taking any more chances. Ian is getting the help he needs, Mickey is going to make sure of it. As Ian signs the paperwork at the hospital, he looks back at Mickey, who gently and supportively nods him on. It looks as though Ian may walk into the ward without really saying goodbye to Mickey, but Mickey isn’t having it. He grabs Ian and hugs him tightly. Mickey asks if he can walk him in. A lot remains uncertain where Ian and Mickey are concerned, but one thing is for sure: Mickey isn’t going anywhere.

Elsewhere on the South Side:

Debbie’s beatdown of Holly of Ellie has gone viral, giving her the reputation of “Deadly Debbie” before she even steps foot in high school. Derek seems to be impressed.

Sammi has finally caught on to Frank’s true nature and is now treating him the way the rest of his children do. Without her help taking his meds, Frank winds up back in the hospital, and is warned (again!) that he’d better start taking care of himself, ’cause he’s not getting another liver.

V tells Fiona that she and Kev are separated. Kev is at the park talking about nothing but V and the kids.

Carl shows up at Mickey’s to talk about Ian. So much potential in that relationship.

Expression Of JoyThe Brady Bunch: Groovy! The Bradys: Ritual hugging Married…With Children: ”Oh, great.” Thirtysomething: ”Of course I’m happy for you. Really. But what about me? Why does it always have to be about you? The Flintstones: ”Yabba-dabba doo

Expression Of Rage

The Brady Bunch: ”Hmmm…” The Bradys: ”If you back away from something you really want, then you’re a quitter!” (the angriest any Brady has ever been) Married…With Children: ”Aaagh, God, take me from this miserable life!” Thirtysomething: ”I’m not angry, OK?” The Flintstones: ”Willllmaaaa!”

Typical ProblemThe Brady Bunch: Marcia and her rival both want to be the prom queen. The Bradys: Bobby gets paralyzed. Married…With Children: Al doesn’t buy his family Christmas presents. Thirtysomething: Nancy gets cancer. The Flintstones: Fred and Barney are staying out too late.

Typical SolutionThe Brady Bunch: The prom committee decides to have two queens. The Bradys: Bobby gets married. Married…With Children: They hate him. Thirtysomething: If only we knew… The Flintstones: Wilma and Betty decide to follow them.

Attitude Toward SexThe Brady Bunch: Never heard of it The Bradys: Omigod — even Cindy does it! Married…With Children: Peg: Yes. Al: No. Thirtysomething: They didn’t get all those kids by accident. The Flintstones: Prehistoric

How Spouses FightThe Brady Bunch: They don’t. The Bradys: Infrequently, but it happens Married…With Children: Tooth and nail Thirtysomething: They stop talking The Flintstones: Fred and Barney go bowling while Wilma and Betty max out their charge cards.

How Kids Get Into TroubleThe Brady Bunch: Greg takes a puff of a cigarette. The Bradys: Carol’s grandson steals her business cards and sticks them in the spokes of Bobby’s wheelchair. Married…With Children: By committing felonies Thirtysomething: Ethan plays with a forbidden toy rocket. The Flintstones: They don’t.

How They’re Punished

The Brady Bunch: ”It’s not what you did, honey — it’s that you couldn’t come to us.” The Bradys ”Next time, ask.” Married…With Children: By the authorities Thirtysomething: It blows up in his face. The Flintstones: They’re not.

What Family Does For FunThe Brady Bunch: Takes special three-part vacations to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon The Bradys: Has flashbacks Married…With Children: Exchanges insults Thirtysomething: Talks The Flintstones: Attends showings of The Monster at the Bedrock Drive-In

Unsolved MysteriesThe Brady Bunch: How exactly did Carol’s first husband and Mike’s first wife die? The Bradys: What’s with Marcia’s new face and Bobby’s blonde hair Married…With Children: What kind of hair spray does Peg use? Thirtysomething: Why did Nancy take Elliot back? What do Gary and Susanna see in each other? The Flintstones: How does Barney’s shirt stay on if he has no shoulders? Where do Fred and Wilma plug in their TV?

Worst BehaviorThe Brady Bunch: The Brady children once made Alice feel under-appreciated.

Best Reason To WatchThe Brady Bunch: This is what life should be. The Bradys: They’re all grown-ups now! Married…With Children: Terry Rakolta hates it. Thirtysomething (Tie) This is your life. This isn’t your life. The Flintstones: This is what life might have been.

Best Reason Not To WatchThe Brady Bunch: Blurred vision from rerun overdoses. The Bradys: You’re all grown-ups now. Married…With Children: She has a point. Thirtysomething: After a while, you think it’s real. The Flintstones: The Simpsons